ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights some findings from the study of the interpersonal metaphors of psychotherapy clients—specifically, how clients who benefitted most from therapy differed from their less successful counterparts in terms of their use of metaphors about their own interpersonal actions. It turns to a consideration of intrapersonal metaphors commonly used by psychotherapy clients. Whereas the metaphors of anger signify the possible destruction of the self and/or of others, the metaphorical representations of distress signify the destruction of the self only. However, in sharp contrast with the metaphors of anger, there is no indication of asserting one's control over the environment; rather, there is a strong sense of the self as having no control. The chapter demonstrates theoretically consistent relations between the use of these expressions and other significant variables, then a case can be made for according metaphor a pre-eminent position as a form of verbal expression in psychotherapy.
